About the Vanderbilt University MS-SLP Program

The Vanderbilt University School of Medicine oversees the Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) Master of Science degree programme. The M.S.-SLP program offers academic and clinical training that leads to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP).

The course is two academic years long (20 to 24 months). The program’s duration is determined by the student’s academic background. The programme lasts for at least five semesters, including the summer session that comes after the first full academic year. Without prior knowledge in communication sciences and disorders, matriculating students will need to take an additional semester.

Throughout the course of the program, a range of clinical training settings are offered at a number of locations. This include, Monroe Carrell, Jr. Children’s Hospital, the Vanderbilt University Hospital, off-campus locations, and the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center for Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences. A ten-week clinical or research externship in a location of the student’s choice serves as the M.S.-SLP program’s capstone.

Vanderbilt University Program Prerequisites

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) stipulates four prerequisite courses for certification. They are regarded as providing a crucial foundation for graduate study. Although completing the required courses is not necessary in order to apply, it is strongly advised that students do so before enrolling in the Vanderbilt Master in Speech-Language Pathology programme.

i) Biological Sciences (a minimum of one course, such as Intro to Biology)
ii) Physics or Chemistry (Coursework does not have to be at the level for science majors, but it must count toward a general science requirement and carry full college credit)
iii) Statistics
iv) Social/Behavioral Sciences (a minimum of one course in public health, sociology, anthropology, or psychology)

Admission Requirements

1. A necessary and significant component of your application is your personal statement. The DHSS does not have any predetermined standards or demands for your personal statement. You might discuss how your prior experiences have influenced your interest in communication sciences, or you might describe how you see your future in this field.
2. Official transcripts must be sent directly to Vanderbilt, together with your completed degree. When you formally submit your application, a prompt to upload your academic records from each institution or university you’ve attended will appear.
3. There is a minimum requirement of three letters and a maximum acceptance of five. Three letters of recommendation, if possible, should come from those who can best assess your academic achievements and chances of success in a clinical or research programme. For instance, letters from professors you have taken classes from or for whom you have worked in research labs in the past are particularly useful. We welcome more letters from managers, teaching assistants, etc.
4. Scores on the GRE are required for applicants. All applicants must submit official GRE results obtained electronically from the Educational Testing Service (ETS).
5. Even if you have earned a four-year degree from an American university, you must submit official TOEFL results if you are an international applicant. The minimum passing score for the TOEFL on paper is 637, 270 for the computer-based test, and 110 for the Internet-based test.
6. Although they are not needed, applicants who have completed the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test can indicate their results in the online application.
7. All recent successful applicants received impressive letters of recommendation, and their average GPA was 3.9. If the rest of the application is solid, candidates with GPAs and/or GRE scores below our averages are still invited to submit.

Related Articles

• Getting into University of Iowa MS-SLP
• Getting into Northwestern University MS-SLP